You HAVE to go to Cineplex’s The Rec Room in Toronto, so that you can go try out The VOID’s Ghostbuster VR game while you’re there. It’s a must.
THE VOID at The Rec Room, Toronto
I’ve been to The Rec Room on multiple occasions over this past month, and recently, I brought my good friend Deanna of Maple Leaf Mommy fame to try out the food and games while she was visiting Toronto for the day.
The food was good, the games were great, and after shooting down aliens in the arcade we had decided on a whim to try out The VOID’s VR game that is housed inside The Rec Room.
Due to an industry holiday party, the line up at THE VOID looked a bit long (which was never the case all the other times I’ve passed by The VOID over the past month,) so we went to shoot bad guys back in the arcade.
We came back the very next day specifically to play the Ghostbusters DIMENSION VR game, just before Deanna was due to head back home.
It’s hard to describe how real it looks to walk into this VR world, but also not.
As someone who loves games, I can’t tell you how frustrating some are, because I get motion-sick from them easily.
I was a bit afraid of that happening here, ’cause the whole ill/headachy feeling comes from realistic gaming. I.e. my brain thinks what I’m looking at is real, and can’t comprehend my sitting still while simultaneously also running for my life away from some massive, and massively ugly troll.
The VOID’s Ghostbuster VR game is about 12 minutes long, and not once did I feel like I was going to throw up while embedded right in the game, nor after. I also didn’t get any pinging warning signs that I would be hosting a headache soon. Everything is awesome in the VR world.
It also felt quicker than 12 minutes, but that’s because it was an amazing amount of FUN.
This picture below does not fully describe how absolutely creepy some of the ghosts are in the game (little ghost girl “Gertie” was EPIC CREEPY, what the whut.)
OMG, IT FEELS SO REAL. Like, it feels real. Reach out and touch that handlebar, it really is there, except it’s not, except it is.
It will blow your mind when Slimer’s slimy-self blows right by you, and suddenly you feel his sliminess too.
Feel like going up an elevator in a haunted building? ‘Cause it will absolutely feel like you’re going up an elevator within a haunted building.
As rookies, Deanna and I managed to walk away with a B+ for our play, URGH! The perfection loving geek in me was ready to fork over another $27 to go back in and fix that, asap.
Despite not having a full idea of what we were in for, that game was refreshing, and exactly what we both needed. It gave me a renewed sense of excitement for what is available now, and what we can look forward to in the future of the virtual realm.
While $24 +tax for a 12-minute game sounds like a lot (and it is,) I can’t stress how much it is worth every penny. You won’t regret spending that amount once you have to put the proton pack away.
If you ever wanted to play in a holodeck, this is probably the closest you’ll get to one right now.
TIPS to Playings The VOID’s Ghostbusters Virtual Reality Game
- If you remember none of the rest of these tips, make sure you totally trash the first apartment that you walk into in the virtual reality game. Don’t worry about breaking the chair, the walls, the plates. Prime your proton pack and go to town. Now, that doesn’t mean go ahead an kick/smash the real contents of that real room. (See that virtual chair? You can sit in it for real!)Deanna and I were so careful to aim for the ghosts and try not to destroy everything else in sight. Apparently, the name of that game was to do the exact opposite.When we got our report card at the end of the game, the attendant laughed and said, “Yeah, I’m finding Canadians are way too nice in this game.” We’re meant to trash, and instead, we’re virtually saying, “Oops! Sorry!” while doing our level best to not leave burn marks on the apartment walls.
- Make a plan ahead of time. Even if it’s just minutes before the game, see if anyone is going to want to lead, and if anyone is going to want to follow.There were moments where I felt like I would be getting in the way if I just jumped in to check out what was around the corner, and gently-nudged Deanna along to go ahead of me (sharing the lead spot,) and after the game I found out that she would have been all kinds of happy if I had just gone first.
- While the VR avatars give a fantastic lead of where each player is. It doesn’t have the best indicators for arms and legs. So just be cognizant that others won’t actually see you reach out and touch the scenery. Deanna and I didn’t have any mishaps in that way (we totally bulldozed each other at the final reveal of the game to try to capture that ghost, omg,) but the potential is there.
- Take your time… within reason. Somehow, Deanna and I missed the fact we were tasked to destroy a device, likely right after the elevator ride.
- Look up! I’ve realised, that while I looked down quite a bit during the game (there is a lot to see beyond your virtual feet,) I never really did look up to see what might be up there (heck, maybe that darn device we were supposed to blow up was attached to the ceiling…)
The VOID is Around the WORLD!
I had no idea that the VOID was something to play all around the globe. If you’re in any of these locations, definitely stop by to play.
I’ve actually made it part of my bucket list to visit every location they have.
- Anaheim, California
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Lindon, Utah
- London, United Kingdom
- New York, New York
- Orlando, Florida (ACK! I WAS JUST THERE!)
- Toronto, Ontario
Have you tried VR gaming at THE VOID? Are you making plans to go right now??
12 Responses
Crazy! Wait.. you can actually touch/feel stuff? but how?
The room(s) that you walk into for the game are set up so that you can touch all that you see in the VR world. And even sit! The first couple minutes of the game is in a haunted apartment, and you could actually sit in the comfy chair that you see in there.
I WILL DO this. MY OLDER DAUGHTER WOULD LOSE HER SH&*!!! That looks like so much fun. Of course if I played with her I’d completely embarrass her so that is either a good thing or a bad thing I guess depending on whether you are empathetic to myself or to her. LOL. I am beyond amazed when stuff this amazing debuts. What a fun game. Love ghostbusters. I are up on the first movie so heck yes I can see this.
Ah ha ha! Embarrass away! None of your trip through is filmed anyway, so what happens in the haunted house, stays in the haunted house, lol.
You will both lose your sh&*, it is such an awesome game to play! And definitely a great way to experience something new as a family, the VR is that mind-blowing wild! 🙂
Okay The Void sounds like the most intriguing VR experience, and I am DEFINITELY adding it to my bucket list. And I have a feeling, my husband, daughter and my nephews will want it on theirs. However, I think my daughter would freak out at the scary and totally almost-real looking Slimer! This is SO cool. First stop when I come to Toronto next!
It should totally be on everyone’s list to go experience! 🙂 I don’t remember where I saw it, but I *think* this game is available to kids 10 and over, so Smallie and Kit both will have to wait a few years before they’ll get to enjoy this fun!
I think part of the age restriction is content (too scary,) but also, kids eyesight is still developing until they’re 6 or 7… they’re not supposed to watch active (and possibly even passive) 3D entertainment until they’re a bit older. 🙂
This sounds like so much fun. I get really motion sick so I don’t know if this would be a game I could handle, but I may have to check it out and see one of these days.
I hear ya, I get motion sick quickly, which was a concern while strapping into the vest. But didn’t feel a thing while I was in. I think it’s because your body is actually moving the way your brain is expecting (instead of sitting down,) so this kind of gaming might benefit those of us that need physical motions to not get a headache! 🙂
How cool is that! Sadly no locations near me, but I will definitely be checking it out next time I am in Toronto
Ok I am totally jealous that not only did you get to play what looks like a super fun game, but also that you spent time with the wonderful Deanna! Looks like you had fun and I should give this a try.
I’ve read that they are working on a Star Wars themed version, with a longer 30 minute time frame which is opening at Disney in Orlando in December. Am I the only one thinking that we totaly need to book another trip to Orlando, STAT?
THANK you for photographing the caution sign. Sincerely appreciated!